July Meeting Reflections: Zac Allen

July 30, 2009 | 1 Comment

After our July meeting, I needed to pull Zac aside just to say thanks. It was really encouraging to hear from someone who might be a stage or two ahead of many of us, but still at a stage that we can relate to. Most of all, I appreciated that Zac spoke to the state of our hearts while offering the wisdom that has come from his experiences.

Zac began by sharing his story. Some of what he said there was also detailed in the Austin Bible summary that was posted a few days ago. Following his story, Zac shared a number of nuggets that he has learned along the way. What follows are my best efforts at catching what Zac had to say:

• Celebrate every season that God gives you
  you are never more of a church just because you are bigger
  what assets do you have with 20 people that you won’t have later?
• Church planting will cost you your life
  you kind of go undercover and off the radar for 12-18 months
• Raise enough money
  you think you’ll gather a group of people faster than you will
  once you launch, you want your focus on the ground, not with one foot in support raising
• Learn your voice
  If you teach the way you were taught, the best you will ever be is high mediocre.
  Worry more about saying what will change people’s lives than about saying the right thing.
• Sniff out wolves
  People come with agendas to fulfill their life long dreams.
  Say no to a network that might cause you to compromise the vison that God has given you.
• Humility should be the defining characteristic for your life.
  Book recommendation: Humility by Andrew Murray
• Success is found in faithfulness
  We are completely dispensible
  If your church does not survive, that needs to be okay.
  Some of you don’t need to plant. Some of you won’t survive. And that’s okay.
• You can’t reach an area that you don’t live in.
• Hold people with an open hand.
  God has not called anyone to your church for life.
  If people leave your church, it’s because of you. Learn to be okay with that.
• Unity is the most understated apologetic of the church.
  Unity = spiritual power. It holds huge weight to a watching world.
  Will not walk with unresolved conflict with anyone in this church.

Zac had more great quotes than I could capture. If you were there, please share any that I missed in the comments.

Categories: Reflections